Help my sheets and bedding feel damp all the time!
Today’s subject is an important message and well if you want quality sleep in PUP then you might want to read on.
Have you noticed that your sheets or bedding feel damp to the touch?
This could be many factors like humidity in the air. If you are camping in a humid state like Florida or Kansas or even during damp seasons like Spring, summer, or fall you should already be away from this, but how do you stop this.
Well frankly you can’t, but the type of sheets or bedding you may use are going to be the source of your problem and this can hinder a well-balanced night’s sleep.
You can first try to close your camper windows and turn on the AC unit bringing out some excess humidity in the air. Many PUP owners already use a dehumidifier or products like Damprid, but that might not be enough.
The fact is that even though you can try your very best to get rid of humidity you may just need to leave with it, but there are certain materials that humidity just won’t stick to as much.
Is cotton the culprit?
Humidity loved cotton and if your sheets are 100% cotton then you might need to rethink that. What was odd for me was when I could feel the difference. Listen to how I found out the hard way while camping in Kansas.
Short Story:
The first year having my PUP I used all products I had around the house, I reused my daughter’s old bedding for each bunk ends. I notice that I used the soft pillowy cotton blanket and she had a polyester bedding set. During one spring evening with very high humidity and rain chances, I was gathering things for bed, when I felt that my top bedding and sheets were cool and damp to the touch. Naturally thinking I had a leak in the roof, or the dog somehow got it wet I checked it out but couldn’t find the source. I asked my daughter if she had the same issue and she replied, “my bed is dry,” I went over to find out for myself, and she went over to try mine. Sure, enough it was different. I just didn’t understand so I googled it and found out that cotton does do this. I check the bedding label and it said 100% cotton. Luckily, I had another comforter and laid it on my bed, and it felt a lot different. Even with storms that night I slept like a baby. Our dog did not though!
The right bedding for your PUP!
I Googled some more information and found out that the best type of fabric for this kind of environment is a 50/50 blend or higher. Bedding with a high synthetic count doesn’t hold water like cotton. My daughter’s comforter set was made from 100% polyester. Dah makes sense!
Your answer!
Find a blend with at least a 50/50 blend or the higher synthetic count. Now all the blankets in my camper are some sort of a polyester blend. Thanks to Walmart and Amazon!
I have now changed the bedding out for different seasons. Last part of spring, summer, and the first part of fall I use 100% polyester blankets. During the colder days, I switch to cotton to keep warm and don’t have a humidity problem. I know it might be ridiculous to switch out, but it works for us. Thinks of those who camp in sleeping bags. During certain types of the year, they switch their sleeping bags as well. You don’t want a thin sleeping bad when it gets down to 42 degrees or vice versa.
All in all, I learned a valuable lesson. Go to the source for answers before compromising on things. I hated the feeling of damp sheets while trying to get a good night’s rest. I would ask other PUP camper owners, but they didn’t know as well how to fix the problem. I know Google doesn’t know everything, but in this case, it has helped us out a lot. I value my sleep and when camping in a state like Kansas where the sun, wind and humidity can be brutal on you and your PUP it’s worth it.